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Detroit’s former Cobo Center is now TCF Center
The former Cobo Convention Center in Detroit has a new name: TCF Center. The Tuesday downtown news conference included Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This naming rights agreement has been a goal of the DRCFA since it […]
Marysville council hopeful withdraws after racist remark
Jean Cramer, the embattled candidate for Marysville City Council whose racist comments attracted national media attention over the last several days, formally withdrew from the local race on Monday. Marysville Mayor Dan Damman told the Detroit Free Press that Cramer had submitted a letter pulling out of the race after saying at a public forum […]
Mid-Michigan Dems fight to save Affordable Care Act
Laura Packard says she’s fighting to protect her own health and the well-being of millions of Americans. “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) saved my life, which is how I know that Republicans’ continued attacks on health care represent a literal life-or-death scenario for millions of Americans,” said Packard, a former Michigander, small business owner and […]
Lawrence calls for Senate to pass background check bill
U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) is calling for Congress to return to Capitol Hill for a vote on legislation aimed at reducing gun violence, and for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring it to the Senate floor. Lawrence told a pro-choice women’s rally last week in Ferndale that the National Rifle Association […]
Dems, progressive groups want Michigan civil rights chief to resign over sexist remarks
Updated 9:54 a.m. 8/13/2019 More than 20 Democratic lawmakers on Monday called for embattled Department of Civil Rights Director Agustin Arbulu to resign after making sexist comments. But the Michigan Civil Rights Commission declined on Monday to release information to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the meeting last month when it reprimanded Arbulu. Documents released by […]
Women push back against violence during Ferndale rally
Local community leaders rallied in Ferndale Tuesday night to speak out against what they called an attack on women’s rights. Speakers at the demonstration organized by Fems for Dems decried efforts by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood. “It’s very pivotable pivotal that we have organizations that are really working toward […]
Study: Racism can attack children’s health
A new study identifies the traumatic impact that racism can have on a child’s health and also offers strategies on how to address the problem. The study titled, “The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health, from the Section on Adolescent Health, Council on Community Pediatrics and Committee on Adolescence,” is published in the […]
Ken Coleman: When it comes to L. Brooks Patterson’s bigotry, I refuse to be silent
L. Brooks Patterson, the longtime charismatic and curmudgeonly Oakland County executive, died on Saturday at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Yes, I’m sorry that the disease took his life, but I can’t ignore his bigoted — if not racist — history. Patterson’s life and times are being written and recorded this weekend […]
Tlaib hosts Detroit hearing on access, equity issues in housing
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) hosted a congressional field hearing on Friday centering on affordable housing at Wayne County Community College District’s Northwestern Campus in Detroit. It featured members of the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which is chaired by U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). “Equitable, safe, and affordable housing is […]
Panel reprimands Michigan civil rights director for ‘inappropriate’ comments
Updated, 10:01 a.m., 8/2/19, with comments from Gov. Whitmer’s office The Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) voted on July 29 in closed session to reprimand Agustin Arbulu, director of the Department of Civil Rights, for his comments that it deemed “inappropriate.” Vicki Levengood, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, told the Advance on […]
Operating engineers strike for ‘fair treatment’ by construction company
Operating engineers working for Indiana-based Rieth-Riley Construction Co. are on strike, calling for “fair treatment.” They have been working without a new contract since June 2018. Rieth-Riley operates several construction crews in Michigan and 13 facilities that produce asphalt. Union members operate heavy machinery for the company. Rieth-Riley said in a press release that this […]
Protesters arrested during border shutdown hours before 2nd Dem debate
Immigrants and allies blocked traffic on Wednesday at the Windsor Tunnel, an international crossing between Detroit and Ontario, Canada. The group of about 300 demanded that 2020 U.S. presidential hopefuls recognize the daily crisis of family separation and deportation that immigrants in Detroit are facing. After a 15-minute blockage, 21 men and women were arrested […]